“Go where God leads”
The Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, or SAMS, has a slogan: “Go where God leads.” As for me, my wife Sherry Kucera, and our church’s mission and outreach committee chair, Anne Hill, God led us to the 2025 New Wineskins for Global Mission Conference. Despite having served on six mission teams over the last four years, I’m ashamed to say that until this weekend, I thought SAMS was an RV owners club. As a newly commissioned youth minister, I’m finding there’s seemingly no end to what I don’t know. Gratefully, God led me to the right place. Amen! I was blessed to learn many more wonderful and life-changing things over three days in Black Mountain, NC at the Ridgecrest Conference Center.
As missionaries, Sherry and I have been to Kenya four times, once to the Abacos, Bahamas, and once to the area of this very conference, helping Hurricane Helene survivors in Burnsville, NC. This November, we’re traveling to Antigua to worship with the Rev. Raliville Christian, who was one of the Anglican clergy in attendance at New Wineskins, to visit his parish, play music, and to fellowship with his youth ministry. What was remarkable about this gathering of missionaries and senders, was that just like studying the Bible, no matter how much or little you know or have experienced, God will meet you at your level, and continually draw you deeper.
“Well, well, well…”
In a room with 1,500 Christians representing more than 60 countries, (and more of God’s creatures wearing collars than the Westminster Dog Show) the Holy Spirit’s presence was palpable at every moment, and in every corner of this Holy mountainside. New Wineskins was astonishingly well planned, well organized, and well executed. The music was phenomenal and deeply moving. Emcee and executive director Jenny Noyes is charming, funny, energetic, and exactly where God has led her. The great commission from Matthew 28:19-20 coursed through every moment of this gathering. I found it exhilarating that scripture was foundational to each and every speaker’s presentation—even in a theologically sound homily from child preacher Daniel Booman (who is from our own Diocese). Being a grade-school music teacher, I’ve witnessed countless standing ovations for child performers from well-meaning parents, but I can honestly report that no 11-year-old since Mozart has better deserved his standing ovation than Daniel!
“I have you right where I want you.”
In one of many profoundly moving testimonies, the Rev. Dr. Akua B. Ofori-Boateng of Ghana, confessed that she had lived a life craving acclamation. Having reached spectacular levels of human achievement, and an insatiable desire for more, she was ultimately surprised to find her worldly success unfulfilling. Only in surrendering her will to God has she found rest. This deeply resonated with me. I’ve been a professional musician my entire life and spent 30 years away from organized religion until COVID-19 shuttered my entertainment business, thereby shattering the illusion that success was the result of me being smart and working hard. My life is nothing I have done. It’s a gift from our loving God. After handing over management of my life and career to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, seeking repentance, and asking God for the strength to be humbly obedient and to go where He sends, I’m grateful to have been warmly greeted as the prodigal by the Father, who ran to meet me. Today, I know the only thing worse than organized religion is unorganized religion. But does this mean I should abandon my platform as a secular artist performing in concert halls and corporate events to work exclusively within the faith community?
Dr. Akua stated that God uses our brokenness and our skills to serve His glory. Wherever we are standing, that is our mission field. We are all uniquely placed to bring about the Kingdom of God. Over the last four years, my secular “Tony Starlight” concerts have been generating checks from secular people written to Prince George Winyah Church in support of Christian mission in Kenya. Bwana asifiwe! God calls us to His adventure. Sometimes that means traveling across the globe, or down the block, or across the hall. Other times God says, “Be still. I have you right where I want you.”
“When you don’t forgive…”
As a person whose most persistent problem is one of abundance, (“Thank you for your kind invitation, but I’m too tired from being too busy doing too many wonderful things to go do another wonderful thing!”) I was humbled to hear the testimonies of persecuted Christians. Like any good American Anglican, I know I need to keep this short, so I will share just one of the powerful testimonies from the persecuted serving in hostile countries. The Ven. Justice Onyeka Olornkwo told of giving way to faith and trusting God in the face of seemingly certain death. He told a harrowing story of escape through divine intervention. Yet, he humbly warned about allowing anger for those who persecute you to envelop you to the point of immobility. “When you don’t forgive, you are not moving forward.” Christ teaches us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Radically counter-culture.
MAP talks
In addition to the addresses in the large auditorium, there were 90 different Mission Awareness Presentation talks, of which each attendee could attend just six. Our PGW contingency divided and conquered, taking in 18 different talks held in small rooms throughout the center, and sharing our experiences. I found several talks which inspired me and will greatly enhance my callings as musician, missionary, and minister.
My deepest passion as youth minister is to ensure that my students “Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness”, and not make being a Christian but one of many attributes by which they would describe themselves. In my case those attributes could include musician, teacher, minister, mentor, son, husband, friend, producer, fund-raiser, sports fan, missionary, and Christian. The proper order is that I’m a Christian and everything else about me emanates out from and points to that.
Here’s are a few highlights from my MAP talk notes:
• The donor is being served at the same level as those being missioned to.
• All you need is a Bible and a brain to do youth ministry!
• Don’t allow yourself to be set apart from a church or faith community.
• People love to tell you their story and be listened to.
• The Spirit of God hovers over lost souls.
• Do not speak loudly.
• A disciple discipling others must live the values of the Gospel.
• Discipleship begins with hearing the Word.
• Repentance clears the decks for mission.
• Create the time and space to invite God into creative collaboration.
• The arts can bring churches together, cross denominationally.
• Europe needs to be missioned to.
• God’s greatest evangelism tool is His creation.
“Lord Jesus, the world is a mess. Come now!”
ACNA Arch Bp. Steve Wood’s magnificent Saturday morning address made me feel so very blessed to be part of the Global Anglican Church. He effectively challenged us with questions, that I’ll paraphrase, “Who are the Samaritans in my life? Who am I avoiding? Which boundaries am I unwilling to cross in service of the Most High?” Dang! I was having such a wonderful time and was just about to head home! Why is he laying all that on me now?
Bp. Wood’s sermon is like the New Wineskins Conference as a whole; there’s simply just too much to tell. This written overview is akin to reading the recipe for an appetizer versus enjoying the seven-course meal. You had to be there.
For those praying that the rapture will bail you out of mission in this life, I’ve got great news. God has work for you! Go where He is leading. Perhaps, if you are willing, God will lead you to the New Wineskins for Global Mission Conference in 2028.
The article was written by Brett Kucera, Youth Minister
Prince George Winyah Anglican Church, Georgetown, SC